Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a)
Medical eligibility. Initial
approval of medical eligibility for long-term care is determined by the
Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) area nurse, or nurse designee. The
certification is obtained by the facility at the time of admission.
(1)
Preadmission screening.
Federal regulations govern the State's responsibility for Preadmission
Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) for individuals with mental illness and
intellectual disability. PASRR applies to the screening or reviewing of all
individuals for mental illness, intellectual disability, or related conditions
who apply to or reside in a Title XIX certified nursing facility (NF),
regardless of the source of payment for the NF services and/or the individual's
or resident's known diagnoses. Individuals referred for admission to a NF must
be screened for a major mental disorder, diagnosable under the most current
edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The
NF must independently evaluate the Level I PASRR screen regardless of who
completes the form and determine whether or not to admit an individual to the
facility. Nursing facilities which inappropriately admit a person without a
PASRR screen are subject to recoupment of funds. PASRR is a requirement for
nursing facilities with dually certified (both Medicare and Medicaid) beds.
There are no PASRR requirements for Medicare skilled beds that are not dually
certified, nor is PASRR required for individuals seeking residency in an
intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities
(ICF/IID).
(2)
PASRR Level I
screen.
(A) Form LTC-300R, Nursing
Facility Level of Care Assessment, must be completed by an authorized NF
official or designee. An authorized NF official or designee must consist of one
(1) of the following:
(i) The NF
administrator or co-administrator;
(ii) A licensed nurse, social service
director, or social worker from the NF; or
(iii) A licensed nurse, social service
director, or social worker from the hospital.
(B) Prior to admission, the authorized NF
official must evaluate the properly completed Oklahoma Health Care Authority
(OHCA) Form LTC-300R and the Minimum Data Set (MDS), if available. Any other
readily available medical and social information is also used to determine if
there currently exists any indication of mental illness, an intellectual
disability, or other related condition, or if such condition existed in the
applicant's past history. Form LTC-300R constitutes the Level I PASRR screen
and is utilized in determining whether or not a Level II assessment is
necessary prior to allowing the member to be admitted. The NF is also
responsible for consulting with the Level of Care Evaluation Unit (LOCEU)
regarding any information on a mental illness, intellectual disability or
related condition that becomes known either from completion of the MDS or
throughout the resident's stay.
(C)
The NF is responsible for determining from the evaluation whether or not the
member can be admitted to the facility. A "yes" response to any question from
Form LTC-300R, Section E, will require the facility to contact the LOCEU for a
consultation to determine if a Level II assessment is needed. If there is any
question as to whether or not there is evidence of mental illness, an
intellectual disability, or related condition, LOCEU should be contacted prior
to admission. The original Form LTC-300R must be submitted electronically or by
mail to the LOCEU within ten (10) days of the resident admission. SoonerCare
payment may not be made for a resident whose LTC-300R requirements have not
been satisfied in a timely manner.
(D) Upon receipt and review of the Form
LTC-300R, the LOCEU may, in coordination with the DHS area nurse, re-evaluate
whether a Level II PASRR assessment may be required. If a Level II assessment
is not required, the process of determining medical eligibility continues. If a
Level II is required, a medical decision is not made until the results of the
Level II assessment are known.
(3)
Level II Assessment for
PASRR.
(A) Any one of the following
three (3) circumstances will allow a member to enter the NF without being
subjected to a Level II PASRR assessment.
(i)
The member has no current indication of mental illness, intellectual
disability, or other related condition and there is no history of such
condition in the member's past.
(ii) The member does not have a diagnosis of
intellectual disability or related condition.
(iii) An individual may be admitted to a NF
if he/she has indications of mental illness, intellectual disability, or other
related condition, but is not a danger to self and/or others, and is being
released from an acute care hospital as part of a medically prescribed period
of recovery (exempted hospital discharge). If an individual is admitted to a NF
based on an exempted hospital discharge, it is the responsibility of the NF to
ensure that the individual is either discharged by the 30th day or that a Level
II has been requested and is in process. An exempted hospital discharge is
allowed only if all three (3) of the following conditions are met:
(I) The individual must be admitted to the NF
directly from a hospital after receiving acute inpatient care at the hospital
(not including psychiatric facilities);
(II) The individual must require NF services
for the condition for which he/she received care in the hospital; and
(III) The attending physician must
certify in writing before admission to the facility that the individual is
likely to require less than thirty (30) days of NF services. The NF will be
required to furnish this documentation to OHCA upon request.
(B) If the member has
current indications of mental illness, intellectual disability, or other
related condition, or if there is a history of such condition in the member's
past, the member cannot be admitted to the NF until the LOCEU is contacted for
consultation to determine if a Level II PASRR assessment must be performed.
Results of any Level II PASRR assessment ordered must indicate that NF care is
appropriate prior to allowing the member to be admitted.
(C) The OHCA LOCEU authorizes advance group
determinations for the mental illness and intellectual disability authorities
in the following categories listed in (i) through (iii) of this subparagraph.
Preliminary screening by the LOCEU may indicate eligibility for NF level of
care prior to consideration of the provisional admission.
(i)
Provisional admission in cases of
delirium. Any person with mental illness, intellectual disability, or
related condition that is not a danger to self and/or others, may be admitted
to a Title XIX certified NF if the individual is experiencing a condition that
precludes screening, i.e., effects of anesthesia, medication, unfamiliar
environment, severity of illness, or electrolyte imbalance.
(I) A Level II evaluation is completed
immediately after the delirium clears. The LOCEU must be provided with written
documentation by a physician that supports the individual's condition which
allows provisional admission as defined in (i) of this subparagraph.
(II) Payment for NF services will not be made
after the provisional admission ending date. If an individual is determined to
need a longer stay, the individual must receive a Level II evaluation before
continuation of the stay may be permitted and payment made for days beyond the
ending date.
(ii)
Provisional admission in emergency situations. Any person with
mental illness, intellectual disability, or related condition, who is not a
danger to self and/or others, may be admitted to a Title XIX certified NF for a
period not to exceed seven (7) days pending further assessment in emergency
situations requiring protective services. The request for Level II evaluation
must be made immediately upon admission to the NF if a longer stay is
anticipated. The LOCEU must be provided with written documentation from DHS
Adult Protective Services which supports the individual's emergency admission.
Payment for NF services will not be made beyond the emergency admission ending
date.
(iii)
Respite care
admission. Any person with mental illness, intellectual disability, or
related condition, who is not a danger to self and/or others, may be admitted
to a Title XIX certified NF to provide respite to in-home caregivers to whom
the individual is expected to return following the brief NF stay. Respite care
may be granted up to fifteen (15) consecutive days per stay, not to exceed
thirty (30) days per calendar year.
(I) In
rare instances, such as illness of the caregiver, an exception may be granted
to allow thirty (30) consecutive days of respite care. However, in no instance
can respite care exceed thirty (30) days per calendar year.
(II) Respite care must be approved by LOCEU
staff prior to the individual's admission to the NF. The NF provides the LOCEU
with written documentation concerning circumstances surrounding the need for
respite care, the date the individual wishes to be admitted to the facility,
and the date the individual is expected to return to the caregiver. Payment for
NF services will not be made after the respite care ending date.
(4)
Resident Review.
(A) The
facility's routine resident assessment will identify those individuals
previously undiagnosed as intellectually disabled or mentally ill. A new
condition of intellectual disability or mental illness must be referred to
LOCEU by the NF for determination of the need for the Level II assessment. The
facility's failure to refer such individuals for a Level II assessment may
result in recoupment of funds.
(B)
A Level II resident review may be conducted the following year for each
resident of a NF who was found to experience a serious mental illness with no
primary diagnosis of dementia on his or her preadmission Level II, to determine
whether, because of the resident's physical and mental condition, the resident
requires the level of services provided by a NF and whether the resident
requires specialized services.
(C)
A significant change in a resident's mental condition could trigger a Level II
resident review. If such a change should occur in a resident's condition, it is
the responsibility of the NF to notify the LOCEU of the need to conduct a
resident review.
(5)
Results of Level II Preadmission Assessment and Resident Review.
Through contractual arrangements between the OHCA and the mental illness or
intellectual disability authorities, individualized assessments are conducted
and findings presented in written evaluations. The evaluations determine if NF
services are needed, if specialized services or less than specialized services
are needed, and if the individual meets the federal PASRR definition of mental
illness, intellectual disability, or related conditions. Evaluations are
delivered to the LOCEU to process formal, written notification to member,
guardian, NF, and interested parties.
(6)
Readmissions and interfacility
transfers. The preadmission screening process does not apply to
readmission of an individual to a NF after transfer for a continuous hospital
stay, and then back to the NF. There is no specific time limit on the length of
absence from the NF for the hospitalization. Interfacility transfers are also
subject to preadmission screening. In the case of transfer of a resident from a
NF to a hospital or to another NF, the transferring NF is responsible for
ensuring that copies of the resident's most recent LTC-300R and any PASRR
evaluations accompany the transferring resident. The receiving NF must submit
an updated LTC-300R that reflects the resident's current status to LOCEU within
ten (10) days of the transfer. Failure to do so could result in possible
recoupment of funds. LOCEU should also be contacted prior to admitting
out-of-state NF applicants with mental illness, intellectual disability, or
related condition, so that PASRR needs can be ascertained. Any PASRR
evaluations previously completed by the referring state should be forwarded to
LOCEU as part of this PASRR consultation.
(7)
PASRR appeals process.
(A) Any individual who has been adversely
affected by any PASRR determination made by the State in the context of either
a preadmission screening or an annual resident review may appeal that
determination by requesting a fair hearing. If the individual does not consider
the PASRR decision a proper one, the individual or their authorized
representative must contact the local county DHS office to discuss a hearing.
Forms for requesting a fair hearing (DHS Form 13MP001E, Request for a Fair
Hearing), as well as assistance in completing the forms, can be obtained at the
local county DHS office. Any request for a hearing must be received by OHCA
within thirty (30) days of the date of written notice. Appeals of these
decisions are available under Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC)
317:2-1-2. All individuals
seeking an appeal have the same rights, regardless of source of payment. Level
I determinations are not subject to appeal.
(B) When the individual is found to
experience mental illness, intellectual disability, or related condition
through the Level II assessment, the PASRR determination made by the mental
illness or intellectual disability authorities cannot be countermanded by the
OHCA, either in the claims process or through other utilization control/review
processes, or by the State Department of Health. Only appeals determinations
made through the fair hearing process may overturn a PASRR determination made
by the mental illness or intellectual disability authorities.
(b)
Determination
of Title XIX medical eligibility for long-term care. The determination
of medical eligibility for care in a NF is made by the DHS area nurse, or nurse
designee. The procedures for determining NF program medical eligibility are
found in OAC 317:35-19. Determination of ICF/IID medical eligibility is made by
LOCEU. The procedures for obtaining and submitting information required for a
decision are outlined below.
(1)
Pre-approval of medical eligibility. Pre-approval of medical
eligibility for private ICF/IID care is based on results of a current
comprehensive psychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist or state
staff psychologist, documentation of intellectual disability or related
condition prior to age twenty-two (22), and the need for active treatment
according to federal standards. Pre-approval is made by LOCEU
analysts.
(2)
Medical
eligibility for ICF/IID services. Within thirty (30) calendar days after
services begin, the facility must submit the original of the Nursing Facility
Level of Care Assessment (Form LTC 300) to LOCEU. Required attachments include
current (within ninety (90) days of requested approval date) medical
information signed by a physician, a current (within twelve (12) months of
requested approval date) psychological evaluation, a copy of the pertinent
section of the individual development plan or other appropriate documentation
relative to discharge planning and the need for ICF/IID level of care, and a
statement that the member is not an imminent threat of harm to self or others
(i.e., suicidal or homicidal). If pre-approval was determined by LOCEU and the
above information is received, medical approval will be entered on Medical
Eligibility Determination Application Tracking System (MEDATS).
(3)
Categorical relationship.
Categorical relationship must be established for determination of eligibility
for long-term medical care. If categorical relationship to disability has not
already been established, the proper forms and medical information are
submitted to LOCEU. (Refer to OAC
317:35-5-4) . In such instances,
LOCEU will render a decision on categorical relationship using the same
definition as used by the Social Security Administration (SSA). A follow-up is
required by the DHS worker with SSA to be sure that their disability decision
agrees with the decision of LOCEU.
Added at 12 Ok Reg
751, eff 1-5-95 through 7-14-95 (emergency); Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1203, eff
1-9-95 (emergency); Added at 12 Ok Reg 3131, eff 7-27-95; Amended at 13 Ok Reg
2523, eff 6-27-96; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 265, eff 9-17-96 (emergency); Amended
at 14 Ok Reg 1780, eff 5-27-97; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2557, eff 6-25-01; Amended
at 22 Ok Reg 96, eff 7-1-04 (emergency); Amended at 21 Ok Reg 2489, eff
7-11-05; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 771, eff 3-9-06 (emergency); Amended at 23 Ok Reg
2537, eff 6-25-06; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 2819, eff 7-1-07 (emergency); Amended
at 25 Ok Reg 1200, eff 5-25-08; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1088, eff
6-25-12